KINGSLEY EBERE
A 33-year old dismissed Army officer, Noah Akano, told the Police that he was still a serving officer preforming his lawful duty in Lagos despite the fact that he was summarily dismissed from the Nigerian Army.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Akano, was arrested in the evening of 7th August, 2025, along the road at Iponri area of Surulere, Lagos, adorning Army uniform while claiming to be a serving Army Officer.
While on the Army uniform, Police operatives who were on routine monitoring, accosted and interrogated him. While responding, he claimed to be a serving officer but was not able to explain himself satisfactorily.
He was subsequently arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct. It was at that point that he confessed that he was actually dismissed in 2018 for an undisclosed offence.
Akano told the Police that the dismissal did not affect him because he continued performing his duty as an Army Officer before they arrested him.
The Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Yaba Magistrate Court for impersonation under the Criminal Law of the State, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charge read:
“That you, NOAH AKANO ‘M’, on 7th August, 2025, at about 4pm along the road at Iponri, Surulere area of Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, being a civilian, having been dismissed from the Nigerian Army since April, 2018, did Impersonate to be a member of the armed forces by wearing Armed Forces camouflage uniform, a representation you know to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 79(11) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Thomas Nurudeen, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. E. Kubenije, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.